The Priorities of the New European Commissioner Corina Cretu
After Wednesdays hearing in the EP confirmed Corina Cretus candidacy as Commissioner for Regional Policy, the Romanian official is ready to take over her office as soon as the Parliament validates the Commission as a whole.
România Internațional, 02.10.2014, 14:52
The Social Democratic MEP Corina Cretu, Romania’s nomination for European commissioner, is only one step away from officially taking over the Regional Policy portfolio, after her nomination was confirmed by the head of the EC Jean-Claude Juncker and by the specialized committee of the European Parliament. Virtually the holder of a post that manages a budget of over 350 billion euros until 2020, Corina Cretu made public her priorities, which naturally include economic growth and new jobs.
Here is Corina Cretu, in an interview given to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Brussels: “Regional Policy, which benefits from one-quarter of the EU budget, will have to make an important contribution to this plan. We have a new regulation, which is very important, and which I believe will enable us to focus on areas related to economic growth and the creation of new jobs. These include research and development, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. As for those countries that have spent less than 50% of the funds earmarked for 2007-2013, I think we will set up a working group, to help them make the most of the time they have left to absorb these funds, that is until the end of 2015.”
On the other hand, she added, regional policy is one of the most important instruments for solidarity within the EU.
Corina Cretu: “I think there is a very important principle, which also underlies the cohesion policy. Both the developed and the less developed countries should realize that by investing in regions, in the real economy, in people, and by helping them to realize their full potential, we actually invest in the EU as a whole.”
In addition, Corina Cretu vowed zero tolerance for fraud involving European funds. This commitment is particularly important, given that Cretu comes from a country which, in a recent EC report, ranks second, after Italy, in terms of the number of fraud cases, and third, after Italy and Poland, in terms of the embezzled amounts.
